Happy Non-GMO Month! We are mindful of special dietary needs and the simple desire to live a healthier lifestyle which is one of the reasons most Jeff’s Garden products are Non-GMO certified.

We are especially proud to bear the “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal which indicates that our products have gone through a rigorous verification process by the Non-GMO Project, a non-profit organization committed to preserving and building sources of non-GMO products, educating consumers, and providing verified non-GMO choices.

The Non-GMO Project is the ONLY organization offering independent verification of testing and GMO controls for products in the U.S. and Canada. Buying products that are verified through this program is the best way to support more non-GMO choices in North America.

During the month of October, thousands of natural food stores across the U.S. and Canada are taking part in Non‐GMO Month, celebrating the public’s right to choose food and products that do not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This month-long event provides a platform for citizens and organizations to stand up for the right to know what’s in their food and to choose non-GMO. Throughout the month, shoppers will be able to find Non-GMO Project Verified choices featured at more than 2,000 Non-GMO Month registered retail stores.

The following Jeff’s Garden products are certified Non-GMO by the Non-GMO Project:

That means it’s time for us to add a delicious new sandwich to our growing collection of recipes! This month, we’re featuring a sandwich that is both delicious and packed with nutrients. This Grilled Portobello Sandwich is so hearty and tasty, even hardcore meat-eaters will love it!

With simple ingredients like creamy hummus, Organic Sliced Greek Kalamata Olives, feta cheese and the zesty zing of Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini – this dish is guaranteed to be a hit at your next party. This dip can be made ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator for several hours. Add parsley and olive oil right before serving.

Serve with pita chips or sliced pita bread, or make it a gluten-free appetizer and serve with gf crackers, celery sticks, sliced cucumbers, and peppers! Enjoy!

*Calculated ingredients may not always be as accurate as the original recipe.

Directions

Finely chop the vegetables and olives for the olive salad. Combine all salad ingredients; set aside.

Cut the loaf of bread in half crosswise. Use a small, serrated knife to score the inside of both halves about 1″ from the crust. Hollow the bread halves by pulling out the insides with your hands. Leave shells about 1″ thick. Save the bread chunks for other uses.

Spoon salad into bottom half of loaf. Layer 2 oz. cheese over the salad. Top with one type of meat; repeat.

Finish layering with last of cheese and meat. Top with tomato and lettuce.

Use an electric knife to cut the sandwich into four wedges. If you don’t have one, use a very sharp serrated knife. Just saw carefully and don’t press too hard–or you might squish the entire filling out.

Break out the dressings because May is National Salad Month! Celebrate the greener side of life by eating a plate of delicious healthy vegetables, spiced up with Jeff’s Natural’s range of healthy, non-GMO products!

If you’re in need of a little salad inspiration, you should check out our new recipes below! With so much variety, we’re pretty sure you’ll be asking yourself “what hamburger?”

October is Non‐GMO Month, a month long celebration of the public’s right to choose food and products that do not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Thousands of natural food stores and brands participate in this annual event organized by the Non-GMO Project, North America’s only third-party verification and labeling organization for non-GMO food and products.

In recent years, GMOs have become a hot button topic among scientists and consumer advocates. We at Jeff’s Naturals believe consumers have a right to understand what’s in their food so they can make informed decisions on what to feed to themselves and their families. That is why it is important to us that most of our products are Non-GMO Project Verified. Look for this label next time you shop:

Here are some commonly asked questions about GMOs:

Source Non-GMO Project

What are GMOs?
GMOs are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses, and other animals and plants for consumption. The Non-GMO Project defines them as

“organisms that have been created through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This relatively new science allows DNA from one species to be injected into another species in a laboratory, creating combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods”.

Are they safe?
Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe. In more than 60 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs. In the U.S., the government has approved GMOs based on studies conducted by the same corporations that created them and profit from their sale.

What is the Non-GMO Project?
The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization committed to preserving and building sources of non-GMO products, educating consumers, and providing verified non-GMO choices. Buying products that are verified through this program is the best way to support the sustained availability of non-GMO choices in North America.

How difficult is it to be Non-GMO Project Verified?
We undergo a series of rigorous tests and audits to ensure that we adhere to the Non-GMO Project’s strict Standard for GMO avoidance.

What are the impacts of GMOs on the environment?
Over 80% of all GMOs grown worldwide are engineered for herbicide tolerance. As a result, use of toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced. GMO crops are also responsible for the emergence of “super weeds” and “super bugs:’ which can only be killed with ever more toxic poisons like 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange).

How do GMOs affect farmers?
Because GMOs are novel life forms, biotechnology companies have been able to obtain patents with which to restrict their use. As a result, the companies that make GMOs now have the power to sue farmers whose fields are contaminated with GMOs, even when it is the result of inevitable drift from neighboring fields. GMOs therefore pose a serious threat to farmer sovereignty and to the national food security of any country where they are grown, including the United States.

We are mindful of the risk involved with consuming GMOs and the need for more choices, so with exception of our cheese stuffed olives, all Jeff’s Naturals products are Non-GMO certified by the Non-GMO project. Throughout October, shoppers will be able to find Non-GMO Project Verified choices featured at more than 2,000 Non-GMO Month registered retail stores.

The Jeff’s Naturals team were all smiles at Natural Products Expo West last year.

As members of the growing natural products community, we always look forward to our annual trek to Anaheim, CA for Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest trade show for the natural, organic and healthy products industry. The Jeff’s Naturals team cannot wait to connect with the thousands of attendees looking for the newest and most innovative natural, organic, and healthy lifestyle products the weekend of March 5–7, 2015.

“At last year’s Expo West event, it was quite noticeable that the non-GMO movement is really taking hold and influencing the food choices consumers make,” says Irene Fay, the Natural Channel Sales Manager for Jeff’s Naturals. “We are proud to be among the exhibitors that are non-GMO certified. In fact, people flocked to our booth last year just to sample our products. Nice to see so many olive and pepper lovers out there!”

Jeff’s Naturals joined Lakewood Juices and Tillen Farms to host a very popular Bloody Mary Bar at the 2014 Natural Products Expo West event.

If you have never been to Expo West, it is quite the experience! Our Bloody Mary Bar from last year’s event was such a hit, that we have decided to reunite with Lakewood Juices and Tillen Farms to host another special cocktail hour (for attendees 21 and up) at the 2015 event!

We hope you will visit the Lakewood Juices Booth, #2816, and the Tillen Farms Booth, #2673. Then, be sure to stop by the Jeff’s Naturals Booth, #4144, on Saturday, March 7th from 12 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for some fun Jalapeno Mangorita Madness!!

ABOUT NATURAL PRODUCTS EXPO WEST
Natural Products Expo West is the premier trade show for the natural, organic and healthy products industry. With an estimated 60,000+ attendees and 3000+ exhibits it is also the largest. The annual event showcases the newest products in natural and specialty foods, organic, health and beauty, natural living, supplements and pet products. To learn more, visit expowest.com.

Consumers with food sensitivities and allergies will appreciate “Free From” at Lamb’s, an Allergen Awareness Program developed to help their customers find appropriate foods for their special dietary needs. The store even offers a Gluten Free store tours with a local Gluten Free Lifestyle expert who offers suggestions for replacing old favorites with new ones. For more information on Lamb’s Market, please visit www.lambsmarkets.net.

Jeff’s Naturals can be found in natural food stores all over the country. To find a store near you, try our new store locator. You never know when you’ll find a great sale! Happy Shopping!

This October, thousands of natural food stores across the U.S. and Canada are taking part in Non‐GMO Month, celebrating the public’s right to choose food and products that do not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Organized by the Non-GMO Project, this month-long event provides a platform for citizens and organizations to stand up for the right to know what’s in their food and to choose non-GMO.

GMOs are defined by the Non-GMO project as

“organisms that have been created through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This relatively new science allows DNA from one species to be injected into another species in a laboratory, creating combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods”.

These experimental combinations of genes cross the natural species barrier and have not been proven safe. Studies increasingly show a connection between GMOs and an array of health risks and environmental concerns. While GMOs are labeled or banned in most developed countries, in the U.S. and Canada they are unlabeled and are found in nearly 80% of processed food.

We are mindful of the risk involved with consuming GMOs and the need for more choices, so with exception of our cheese stuffed olives, all Jeff’s Naturals products are Non-GMO certified by the Non-GMO project. Throughout October, shoppers will be able to find Non-GMO Project Verified choices featured at more than 2,000 Non-GMO Month registered retail stores.

No more canola oil!

We, at Jeff’s Naturals, are passionate about good health and offering consumers products with ingredients that are free of preservatives, stablilizers, artificial colors, flavors, sulfites and GMOs.

In addition, we are always striving for excellence and believe one of the best ways to get better is to listen to our consumers.

Our Cheese Stuffed Olives, packed right here in the Napa Valley, are one of our most popular items in natural food stores. However, many of you have contacted us via email and social media to let us know that you prefer not to include canola oil in your diet, even if it is non GMO. This prompted us to make a change.

Price Reduction!

We would also like to share that we have been able to reduce the price on these two olives—you should soon see these two cheese stuffed olives being line priced with our other delicious Jeff’s Naturals olives!

This means you can stock up on all of your favorite Jeff’s Naturals olives, at the same price! Whether you try them in a Caesar salad, sprinkled over a pizza, in a martini, an antipasto platter or tossed into your favorite pasta dish, you can’t go wrong!

Here are a few ideas to enjoy our new and (if we do say so) improved cheese stuffed olives:

Add chopped Jeff’s Naturals Feta Cheese Stuffed Olives to some couscous, with diced tomato, minced onion and drizzle with some olive oil and olive juice and garnish with basil. You’ll have a 5 minute dish to take to your next picnic.